2015–16 RFU Championship

The 2015–16 RFU Championship, known for sponsorship reasons as the Greene King IPA Championship, is the seventh season of the professionalised format of the RFU Championship, the second tier of the English rugby union league system run by the Rugby Football Union. It is contested by eleven English clubs and one from Jersey in the Channel Islands. This is the third year of the competition's sponsorship with Greene King Brewery, which runs until 2017.[1] The twelve teams in the RFU Championship also compete in the British and Irish Cup, along with clubs from Ireland and Wales. Some matches in the RFU Championship are broadcast on Sky Sports.

2015–16 RFU Championship
Countries England
 Jersey
Date4 September 2015 – May 2016
ChampionsBristol
Runners-upDoncaster Knights
RelegatedMoseley
Matches played138
Attendance298,010
(average 2,159 per match)
Highest attendance16,084 Bristol Rugby v Doncaster Knights on 25 May 2016
Lowest attendance310 Ealing Trailfinders v Nottingham Rugby on 28 November 2015
Tries scored848
(average 6.1 per match)
Top point scorer Gavin Henson
Bristol 193 points
Top try scorer Paul Grant
Nottingham Rugby 19 tries

Moseley are relegated into the 2016–17 National League 1 after finishing bottom of the table.[2] After seven years of trying for promotion (five of which they actually topped the league stage including during this season), Bristol finally did it. In front of a divisional and club record crowd of 16,084, Bristol managed to gain promotion to the Aviva Premiership despite losing 32-34 to away side (and league stage runners up), Doncaster Knights, due to an emphatic first leg victory, to go up 60 - 47 on aggregate.[3][4]

Structure

The Championship's structure has all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis. The play-off structure will remain the same as the previous year.[5] The top four teams at the end of the home-and-way season qualify for the promotion play-offs which follow a 1 v 4, 2 v 3 system. The winners have to meet the RFU's Minimum Standards Criteria in order to be promoted to the Premiership. There is no promotion if grounds fail to meet the criteria.[6] There are no relegation play-offs; the bottom team is automatically relegated.[5] This the last year of a 2012 funding agreement with the RFU, where each club would have been given a grant of £380,000.[7] Following claims, by Championship teams, including Plymouth Albion, that the current arrangement was not enough to sustain professional clubs, the RFU increased the annual funding to over £500,000 per club in a new agreement which will last until 2020.[8]

Teams
Locations of the 2015–16 RFU Championship teams
Greater London RFU Championship teams clubs

Ten of the teams, listed below, played in the championship last season. Worcester Warriors were promoted to the English Premiership defeating Bristol in the 2014–15 RFU Championship play-off final and are replaced by London Welsh, following their relegation from the 2014–15 English Premiership, after finishing bottom of the table and earning only one point.[9][10] Plymouth Albion were relegated from the Championship after finishing bottom in the 2014–15 RFU Championship, ending a thirteen-year spell in the second tier of English rugby.[11] They are replaced by Ealing Trailfinders who were promoted as champions of 2014–15 National League 1, returning to the RFU Championship after relegation the previous year.[12]

Club Stadium Capacity Area Captain DOR/Head Coach
Bedford Blues Goldington Road 6,000 Bedford, Bedfordshire Nick Fenton-Wells Mike Rayer
Bristol Ashton Gate Stadium 16,600[a 1] Bristol Dwayne Peel Andy Robinson
Cornish Pirates Mennaye Field 4,000 (2,200 Seats) Penzance, Cornwall Chris Morgan Ian Davies
Doncaster Knights Castle Park rugby stadium 5,000 Doncaster, South Yorkshire Michael Hills Clive Griffiths
Ealing Trailfinders Trailfinders Sports Ground 3,020 (1,020 seats) West Ealing, London Danny Kenny Ben Ward
Jersey St Peter 5,000 Saint Peter, Jersey Alex Rae Harvey Biljon
London Scottish Athletic Ground, Richmond 4,500 Richmond, London Mark Bright Mike Friday
London Welsh Old Deer Park 5,850 (1,000 seats) Richmond, London Matt Corker Rowland Phillips
Moseley Billesley Common 3,000+ Birmingham, West Midlands Mike Powell Kevin Maggs
Nottingham Rugby Lady Bay Sports Ground 2,000 (est) Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Daniel Montagu Martin Haag
Rotherham Titans Clifton Lane
Herringthorpe Playing Fields		 2,500
Unknown capacity		 Rotherham, South Yorkshire Tom Holmes Lee Blackett
Yorkshire Carnegie Headingley Carnegie Stadium 21,062 Leeds, West Yorkshire Ryan Burrows Ian McGeechan
  1. Capacity at Ashton Gate was down from 21,497 to 16,600 due to redevelopment work to modernise the stadium up to 27,000 for the 2016-17 season.[13][14]

Table
2015–16 RFU Championship Table
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
1Bristol (C)22200271839732114195
2Doncaster Knights (F)22152558847011810579
3Yorkshire Carnegie (SF)22140865546618915778
4Bedford Blues (SF)22120106235992410664
5London Welsh2211110442528−869358
6Jersey2211110465466−15657
7Nottingham Rugby2210012494483119756
8London Scottish2210012463453102749
9Cornish Pirates228113530570−408749
10Rotherham Titans228014454621−1673338
11Ealing Trailfinders226115523605−825637
12Moseley (R)224018416715−2996426
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background are promotion play-off places. Pink background is the relegation place.
Updated: 13 May 2016
Source: "Greene King IPA Championship". NCA Rugby.

Fixtures

Round 1
4 September 2015
19:45
(BP) London Scottish 19 – 23 Moseley
Scottish
Moseley
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 888
Referee: Darren Gamage
5 September 2015
14:30
(2BP) Doncaster Knights 33 – 35 London Welsh (BP)
Welsh
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,019
Referee: Greg MacDonald
6 September 2015
14:00
Rotherham Titans 24 – 23 Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
Rotherham
Ealing
Herringthorpe Playing Fields[a 1]
Attendance: 887
Referee: Matthew O’Grady
6 September 2015
15:00
(BP) Bristol Rugby 23 – 29 Bedford Blues (BP)
Bristol
Bedford
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 6,063
Referee: Tom Foley
6 September 2015
15:00
Cornish Pirates 18 – 14 Nottingham (BP)
Pirates
Nottingham
The Mennaye
Attendance: 1,447
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
6 September 2015
15:00
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 39 – 22 Jersey
Carnegie
Jersey
Headingley
Attendance: 2,037
Referee: Andrew Jackson
  1. Rotherham Titans played at Herringthorpe Stadium due to the local cricket club using Clifton Road on the same date.[15]

[16]

Round 2
12 September 2015
15:00
(BP) Bedford Blues 38 – 32 Moseley (2BP)
Bedford
Moseley
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,239
Referee: Simon Harding
12 September 2015
15:00
Ealing Trailfinders 17 – 37 London Scottish (BP)
Ealing
Scottish
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 744
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
12 September 2015
15:00
Jersey 17 – 15 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Jersey
Pirates
St Peter
Attendance: 2,146
Referee: Andrew Small
13 September 2015
14:00
Rotherham Titans 11 – 20 Yorkshire Carnegie
Rotherham
Carnegie
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,437
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
13 September 2015
15:00
(2BP) Nottingham Rugby 30 – 36 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Nottingham
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 794[17]
Referee: Darren Gamage
13 September 2015
15:15
London Welsh 22 – 36 Bristol Rugby (BP)
Welsh
Bristol
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 2,032
Referee: Greg Garner

[18]

Round 3
19 September 2015
14:30
Doncaster Knights 31 – 27 Jersey (BP)
Jersey
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,052
Referee: Tom Foley
19 September 2015
14:30
London Scottish 24 – 12 Bedford Blues
Scottish
Bedford
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,154
Referee: Matt Carley
19 September 2015
15:00
Moseley 6 – 17 London Welsh
Moseley
Welsh
Billesley Common
Attendance: 966
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
20 September 2015
15:00
(BP) Bristol Rugby 46 – 31 Nottingham Rugby (BP)
Bristol
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 5,544
Referee: Dean Richards
20 September 2015
15:00
(BP) Cornish Pirates 24 – 26 Rotherham Titans
Pirates
Rotherham
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,274
Referee: Luke Pearce
20 September 2015
15:00
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 40 – 28 Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
Carnegie
Ealing
Headingley
Attendance: 1,938
Referee: Greg MacDonald

[19]

Round 4
26 September 2015
14:00
(BP) London Welsh 30 – 24 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,697
Referee: Darren Gamage
26 September 2015
15:00
Ealing Trailfinders 28 – 17 Cornish Pirates
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 863
Referee: Simon Harding
26 September 2015
15:00
Jersey 7 – 24 Bristol Rugby
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 2,053
Referee: Luke Pearce
26 September 2015
15:00
Rotherham Titans 30 – 23 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,721
Referee: Andrew Jackson
26 September 2015
15:00
(2BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 27 – 30 London Scottish
Report
Headingley
Attendance: 1,329
Referee: Steve Lee
27 September 2015
15:00
(BP) Nottingham Rugby 34 – 22 Moseley
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 623
Referee: Greg MacDonald

[20]

Round 5
3 October 2015
14:30
Doncaster Knights 23 – 17 Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,231
Referee: Steve Lee
3 October 2015
14:30
London Scottish 11 – 10 London Welsh (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,438
Referee: Andrew Small
3 October 2015
15:00
Bedford Blues 28 – 19 Nottingham
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,101
Referee: Greg Garner
3 October 2015
15:00
Moseley 18 – 29 Jersey
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 830
Referee: Matthew O'Grady
4 October 2015
15:00
(BP) Bristol Rugby 28 – 12 Rotherham Titans
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 4,560
Referee: Craig Maxwell Keys
4 October 2015
15:00
Cornish Pirates 13 – 26 Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,184
Referee: Tom Foley

[21]

Round 6
9 October 2015
19:45
Nottingham Rugby 30 – 10 London Welsh
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 797
Referee: Luke Pearce
9 October 2015
20:00
Yorkshire Carnegie 27 – 20 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Headingley
Attendance: 2,373
Referee: Andrew Small
10 October 2015
14:45
(BP) Jersey 34 – 27 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 2,010
Referee: Andrew Jackson
10 October 2015
15:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 21 – 26 Bristol Rugby
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 874
Referee: Ian Tempest
10 October 2015
15:00
(BP) Rotherham Titans 37 – 27 Moseley
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,132
Referee: Dean Richards
11 October 2015
15:00
Cornish Pirates 21 – 17 London Scottish (BP)
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,054
Referee: Greg Garner

[22]

Round 7
16 October 2015
19:30
(BP) Moseley 38 – 25 Ealing Trailfinders
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 975
Referee: Darren Gamage
16 October 2015
19:45
(BP) Bedford Blues 46 – 28 Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,574
Referee: Simon Harding
16 October 2015
19:45
(BP) London Scottish 17 – 18 Nottingham Rugby
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 894
Referee: Matthew O'Grady
17 October 2015
14:00
(BP) Doncaster Knights 28 – 11 Cornish Pirates
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,219
Referee: Ian Tempest
17 October 2015
14:00
London Welsh 14 – 8 Jersey (BP)
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 842
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
18 October 2015
13:30
(BP) Bristol Rugby 47 – 42 Yorkshire Carnegie (2BP)
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 5,185
Referee: Andrew Jackson

[23]

Round 8
23 October 2015
19:45
(BP) Jersey 27 – 29 Nottingham Rugby (BP)
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 2,016
Referee: Ian Tempest
24 October 2015
14:00
Cornish Pirates 10 – 40 Bristol Rugby (BP)
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,890
Referee: Darren Gamage
24 October 2015
14:00
Doncaster Knights 19 – 10 London Scottish
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,159
Referee: John Meredith
24 October 2015
14:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 21 – 23 Bedford Blues
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 748
Referee: Steve Lee
24 October 2015
14:00
Rotherham Titans 32 – 16 London Welsh
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,087
Referee: Andrew Jackson
25 October 2015
14:00
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 52 – 19 Moseley
Report
Headingley
Attendance: 1,821
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

[24]

Round 9
6 November 2015
19:30
(BP) Moseley 24 – 19 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Billesely Common
Attendance: 1,145
Referee: Andrew Small
6 November 2015
19:45
Bristol Rugby 27 – 39 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 6,979
Referee: Dean Richards
7 November 2015
14:00
London Scottish 5 – 20 Jersey
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,007
Referee: Steve Lee
7 November 2015
14:00
London Welsh 3 – 27 Ealing Trailfinders
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 803
Referee: Simon Harding
7 November 2015
15:00
Bedford Blues 22 – 21 Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,224
Referee: Matthew O'Grady
8 November 2015
15:00
(BP) Nottingham Rugby 11 – 17 Rotherham Titans
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 954
Referee: John Meredith

[25]

Round 10
27 November 2015
19:45
(BP) Bristol Rugby 37 – 13 London Scottish
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 7,145
Referee: Andrew Small
27 November 2015
20:00
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 7 – 10 London Welsh
Report
Headingley
Attendance: 3,672
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
28 November 2015
14:00
Rotherham Titans 6 – 27 Jersey (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 895
Referee: John Meredith
28 November 2015
14:30
(BP) Doncaster Knights 34 – 11 Moseley
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,493
Referee: Andrew Jackson
28 November 2015
15:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 22 – 34 Nottingham Rugby (BP)
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 310
Referee: Greg Macdonald
29 November 2015
15:00
(BP) Cornish Pirates 32 – 31 Bedford Blues (2BP)
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,025
Referee: Dean Richards

[26]

Round 11
4 December 2015
19:45
(BP) Jersey 35 – 7 Ealing Trailfinders
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 2,100
Referee: Ian Tempest
4 December 2015
19:45
Nottingham Rugby 14 – 13 Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,864
Referee: Steve Lee
5 December 2015
14:00
London Welsh 19 – 38 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,055
Referee: Darren Gamage
5 December 2015
15:00
(BP) Bedford Blues 13 – 18 Doncaster Knights
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,077
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
5 December 2015
15:00
London Scottish 21 – 16 Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 884
Referee: Dean Richards
5 December 2015
15:00
(BP) Moseley 28 – 39 Bristol Rugby (BP)
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 993
Referee: Matt O'Grady

[27]

Round 12
26 December 2015
14:30
Doncaster Knights 26 – 12 Nottingham Rugby
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 2,921
Referee: Matthew O'Grady
26 December 2015
15:00
(2BP) London Scottish 22 – 28 Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,260
Referee: Andrew Jackson
26 December 2015
15:00
(2BP) Moseley 24 – 31 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Billesely Common
Attendance: 1,431
Referee: Craig Maxwell Keys
27 December 2015
14:00
Cornish Pirates 16 – 10 Jersey (BP)
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 2,340
Referee: Andrew Small
27 December 2015
15:00
(BP) Bristol Rugby 35 – 0 London Welsh
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 11,170
Referee: Luke Pearce
27 December 2015
15:00
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 43 – 9 Rotherham Titans
Report
Headingley
Attendance: 3,292
Referee: Greg Macdonald

[28]

Round 13
1 January 2016
15:00
(BP) Bedford Blues 31 – 19 London Scottish
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 4,341
Referee: Ian Tempest
2 January 2016
13:30
(BP) London Welsh 32 – 6 Moseley
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,327
Referee: Darren Gamage
2 January 2016
14:00
Rotherham Titans 21 – 38 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,307
Referee: Andrew Jackson
2 January 2016
14:30
Jersey 17 – 17 Doncaster Knights
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 1,870
Referee: Dean Richards
2 January 2016
14:30
(BP) Nottingham Rugby 10 – 16 Bristol Rugby
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,197
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
2 January 2016
15:00
Ealing Trailfinders 29 – 45 Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 621
Referee: Matt O'Grady

[29]

Round 14
30 January 2016
15:00
(BP) Bedford Blues 64 – 20 London Welsh
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,612
Referee: Andrew Small
30 January 2016
15:00
London Scottish 22 – 20 Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,236
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
30 January 2016
15:00
Moseley 8 – 24 Nottingham Rugby
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 1,011
Referee: Ian Tempest
31 January 2016
15:00
(BP) Bristol Rugby 35 – 12 Jersey
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 6,398
Referee: Matt Carley
31 January 2016
15:00
Cornish Pirates 30 – 15 Ealing Trailfinders
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,348
Referee: John Meredith
31 January 2016
15:15
(BP) Doncaster Knights 34 – 24 Rotherham Titans
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 3,287
Referee: Andrew Jackson

[30]

Round 15
6 February 2016
14:00
(BP) London Welsh 17 – 19 London Scottish
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,207
Referee: Dean Richards
6 February 2016
14:00
Rotherham Titans 17 – 36 Bristol Rugby (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,236
Referee: Greg MacDonald
6 February 2016
15:00
Ealing Trailfinders 17 – 17 Doncaster Knights
Report
Trailfinders Ground
Attendance: 425
Referee: Andrew Small
6 February 2016
15:00
Jersey 22 – 18 Moseley (BP)
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 1,526
Referee: Steve Lee
7 February 2016
15:00
(BP) Nottingham Rugby 18 – 20 Bedford Blues
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,067
Referee: John Meredith
7 February 2016
15:00
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 33 – 26 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Headingley Stadium
Attendance: 2,107
Referee: Matthew O'Grady

[31]

Round 16
12 February 2016
15:00
(BP) Bristol Rugby 63 – 10 Ealing Trailfinders
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 5,517
Referee: Steve Lee
13 February 2016
14:00
(BP) London Welsh 22 – 18 Nottingham (BP)
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 730
Referee: Greg Macdonald
13 February 2016
14:30
(BP) Doncaster Knights 34 – 28 Yorkshire Carnegie (2BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 2,331
Referee: Luke Pearce
13 February 2016
15:00
(BP) Bedford Blues 18 – 25 Jersey
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,162
Referee: Matthew O'Grady
13 February 2016
15:00
London Scottish 21 – 10 Cornish Pirates
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,109
Referee: Chris Riley
13 February 2016
15:00
Moseley 16 – 11 Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 726
Referee: Darren Gamage

[32]

Round 17
27 February 2016
14:00
(BP) Jersey 14 – 21 London Welsh
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 2,009
Referee: Michael Hudson
27 February 2016
14:00
(BP) Rotherham Titans 39 – 31 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,107
Referee: Steve Lee
27 February 2016
15:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 55 – 15 Moseley
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 626
Referee: Andrew Small
28 February 2016
15:00
(BP) Cornish Pirates 19 – 26 Doncaster Knights
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,231
Referee: Greg Macdonald
28 February 2016
15:00
Nottingham Rugby 17 – 3 London Scottish
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 940
Referee: Fergus Kirby
28 February 2016
15:00
Yorkshire Carnegie 7 – 23 Bristol Rugby
Report
Headingley Stadium
Attendance: 2,984
Referee: Darren Gamage

[33]

Round 18
4 March 2016
19:45
(BP) Nottingham Rugby 15 – 22 Jersey
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 753
Referee: Andrew Small
5 March 2016
14:00
(BP) London Welsh 32 – 16 Rotherham Titans
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 966
Referee: John Meredith
5 March 2016
15:00
(BP) Bedford Blues 33 – 24 Ealing Trailfinders
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,082
Referee: Dean Richards
5 March 2016
15:00
(BP) London Scottish 20 – 26 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,089
Referee: Matt O'Grady
5 March 2016
15:00
Moseley 12 – 28 Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 1,025
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
6 March 2016
15:00
(BP) Bristol Rugby 29 – 24 Cornish Pirates (2BP)
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 7,005
Referee: Christophe Ridley

[34]

Round 19
25 March 2016
15:00
Jersey 22 – 20 London Scottish (BP)
Report
St. Peter
Attendance: 2,460
Referee: Darren Gamage
26 March 2016
15:00
(BP) Cornish Pirates 32 – 0 Moseley
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,344
Referee: Dean Richards
26 March 2016
15:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 16 – 22 London Welsh (BP)
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 802
Referee: Greg McDonald
26 March 2016
15:00
Rotherham Titans 22 – 12 Nottingham Rugby
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,188
Referee: Darren Gamage
27 March 2016
13:45
(2BP) Doncaster Knights 29 – 31 Bristol Rugby (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 2,223
Referee: Luke Pearce
27 March 2016
15:00
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 35 – 20 Bedford Blues
Report
Headingley Stadium
Attendance: 1,718
Referee: John Meredith

[35]

Round 20
1 April 2016
19:30
Moseley 23 – 38 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 1,108
Referee: Ian Tempest
1 April 2016
19:45
(BP) Nottingham Rugby 22 – 18 Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 978
Referee: Dean Richards
2 April 2016
14:00
(2BP) London Welsh 28 – 31 Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,463
Referee: Matthew O'Grady
2 April 2016
15:00
(BP) Bedford Blues 54 – 46 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,035
Referee: Greg MacDonald
2 April 2016
15:00
(BP) Jersey 44 – 27 Rotherham Titans
Report
St. Peter
Attendance: 1,987
Referee: Michael Hudson
2 April 2016
15:00
(BP) London Scottish 16 – 21 Bristol Rugby
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,850
Referee: John Meredith

[36]

Round 21
15 April 2016
19:45
Bristol Rugby 24 – 22 Moseley (BP)
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 6,449
Referee: Tom Foley
  • Moseley are relegated after Ealing beat Jersey during the Saturday fixture.[2]
16 April 2016
14:30
Doncaster Knights 28 – 24 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 2,446
Referee: Dean Richards
16 April 2016
15:00
Ealing Trailfinders 30 – 24 Jersey (BP)
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 658
Referee: Ian Tempest
16 April 2016
15:00
(BP) Rotherham Titans 17 – 22 London Scottish
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 983
Referee: Chris Ridley
17 April 2016
15:00
(BP) Cornish Pirates 38 – 38 London Welsh (BP)
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,568
Referee: Jack Makepeace
17 April 2016
15:00
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 37 – 27 Nottingham Rugby (BP)
Report
Headingley Stadium
Attendance: 2,147
Referee: Greg Macdonald

[37]

Round 22
23 April 2016
14:30
(BP) Nottingham Rugby 55 – 33 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,235
Referee: Matt O'Grady
23 April 2016
15:00
Bedford Blues 6 – 39 Bristol Rugby (BP)
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,224
Referee: John Meredith
23 April 2016
15:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 45 – 12 Rotherham Titans
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 667
Referee: Fergus Kirby
23 April 2016
15:00
Jersey 0 – 34 Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 2,613
Referee: Andrew Small
23 April 2016
15:00
(BP) London Welsh 24 – 19 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Priory Lane[n 1]
Attendance: 1,092
Referee: Andrew Jackson
23 April 2016
15:00
(BP) Moseley 24 – 75 London Scottish (BP)
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 1,299
Referee: Jack Makepeace
    • London Welsh played their home match at Rosslyn Park's ground because Old Deer Park was booked for a food fayre[38]

[39]

Play-offs

Semi-finals

The semi-finals follow a 1 v 4, 2 v 3 system – with the games being played over two legs and the higher placed team choosing which leg they play at home. Both Bristol and Doncaster elected to play the second leg at home and therefore visited Bedford Blues and Yorkshire Carnegie respectively in the first legs on 1 May. The grounds of three of the teams met the minimum standards required to play in the Premiership next season. If Doncaster Knights are promoted they will initially play their matches at the Keepmoat Stadium, the home of Doncaster Rovers while Bristol will continue to play at Ashton Gate. Yorkshire Carnegie would have used their current home of Headingley Stadium if they had earned promotion. Bedford Blues did not apply to have their ground audited and, therefore, could not win promotion; if they had won the play-off final, the last-placed team in the Premiership (London Irish) would not have been relegated.[40]

First leg
1 May 2016
15:00
Yorkshire Carnegie 17–30 Doncaster Knights
Report
Headingley Stadium
Attendance: 3,102
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
1 May 2016
15:15
Bedford Blues 16–45 Bristol Rugby
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,662
Referee: Luke Pearce

Second leg
8 May 2016
14:30
Doncaster Knights 14–17 Yorkshire Carnegie
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 4,797
Referee: Ian Tempest
  • Doncaster Knights won 44–34 on aggregate
8 May 2016
15:15
Bristol Rugby 45–19 Bedford Blues
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 12,030
Referee: Dean Richards
  • Bristol Rugby won 90–35 on aggregate

Final

The final is played over two legs – with the higher placed team deciding who plays at home in the first leg.

First leg
18 May 2016
19:45
Doncaster Knights 13–28 Bristol Rugby
Try: Hurrell (1) 23'c
Con: Cusack (1/1) 23'
Pen: Cusack (2) 3', 39'
 Bristol
Knights		 Try: Lemi 35'm
McMillan 46'c
Glynn 50'c
Con: Sheedy (2/3) 46', 50'
Pen: Sheedy (3) 19', 26', 66'
Castle Park
Attendance: 4,759
Referee: Wayne Barnes

Second leg
25 May 2016
19:45
Bristol Rugby 32–34 Doncaster Knights
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 16,084
Referee: Matthew Carley
  • Bristol won 60–47 on aggregate

Attendances
  • Includes playoff games.
Club Home
Games		 Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity
Bedford Blues1231,3332,6114,3412,07744%
Bristol Rugby13100,1297,70216,0844,56046%
Cornish Pirates1115,7051,4282,3401,02536%
Doncaster Knights1329,9372,3034,7971,01946%
Ealing Trailfinders117,33866787431022%
Jersey1122,7902,0722,6131,52641%
London Scottish1112,8091,1641,85088426%
London Welsh1113,2141,2012,03273024%
Moseley1111,5091,0461,43172635%
Nottingham Rugby1111,2021,0181,86462351%
Rotherham Titans1112,9801,1801,72188748%
Yorkshire Carnegie1228,5202,3773,6721,32911%

[41]

Individual statistics
  • Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals. Appearance figures also include coming on as substitutes (unused substitutes not included). Stats also cover playoff games.

Season records

See also

References
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  2. "Problems in key areas cost Moseley RFC Championship place". Birmingham Mail. 20 April 2016.
  3. "Bristol Rugby are back! Defeat to Doncaster doesn't stop Premiership promotion". Bristol Post. 25 May 2016.
  4. "GALLERY: RECORD CROWD FOR BRISTOL". Bristol Rugby. 26 May 2016.
  5. "Championship: RFU to abolish play-off pool stages". BBC Sport. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  6. "Premiership is no go for now admits chief Irvine". Bedfordshire News. 13 March 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  7. Pilnick, Brent (22 August 2012). "RFU unveils new funding deal for Championship clubs". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  8. "Championship: 'Extra RFU funding is not enough', Plymouth chief". BBC Sport. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  9. Scott, Ged. "Championship play-off: Worcester 30–30 Bristol (Agg 59–58)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  10. "English Premiership Table". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  11. "Plymouth Albion are relegated from the Championship". BBC Sport. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  12. Wilkinson, John (29 April 2015). "Scott Morgan: 'If you want to win this league you've got three lives, and unfortunately we lost all ours in January'". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  13. "Why does Bristol never build anything?". BBC News. 16 January 2014.
  14. "It's all kicking off as work starts on £40m makeover for Bristol City stadium". Bristol Post. 28 April 2014.
  15. "Titans open at Herringthorpe". rotherham.gov.uk. 6 August 2015.
  16. "Championship". RugbyPaper (364). 6 September 2015. pp. 30–31 &40.
  17. "Nottingham VS Doncaster Knights". Rugby Statbunker. 13 September 2015.
  18. "Championship". RugbyPaper (365). 13 September 2015. pp. 28–29 & 38.
  19. "Championship". RugbyPaper (366). 20 September 2015. pp. 36–37 & 46.
  20. "Championship". RugbyPaper (367). 27 September 2015. pp. 36–37 & 46.
  21. "Championship". RugbyPaper (368). 4 October 2015. pp. 38–39 & 49.
  22. "Championship". RugbyPaper (369). 11 October 2015. pp. 36–37 & 46.
  23. "Championship". RugbyPaper (370). 18 October 2015. pp. 30–31 & 40.
  24. "Championship". RugbyPaper (371). 25 October 2015. pp. 28–29 & 40.
  25. "Championship". RugbyPaper (373). 8 November 2015. pp. 26–27 & 38.
  26. "Championship". RugbyPaper (376). 29 November 2015. pp. 22–23 & 40.
  27. "Championship". RugbyPaper (377). 6 December 2015. pp. 20–21 & 38.
  28. "Championship". RugbyPaper (380). 27 December 2015. pp. 26–27 & 30.
  29. "Championship". RugbyPaper (381). 3 January 2016. pp. 24–25 & 36.
  30. "Championship". RugbyPaper (385). 10 January 2016. pp. 16–17 & 38.
  31. "Championship". RugbyPaper (386). 7 February 2016. pp. 28–29 & 36.
  32. "Championship". RugbyPaper (387). 15 February 2016. pp. 28–29 & 38.
  33. "Championship". RugbyPaper (389). 28 February 2016. pp. 30–31 & 38.
  34. "Championship". RugbyPaper (390). 6 March 2016. pp. 28–29 & 38.
  35. "Championship". RugbyPaper (393). 27 March 2016. pp. 28–29 & 36.
  36. "Championship". RugbyPaper (394). 3 April 2016. pp. 24–25 & 34.
  37. "Championship". RugbyPaper (396). 17 April 2016. pp. 26–27 & 38.
  38. Jarmyn, Luke (24 April 2016). "Griffiths anger as Welsh end Doncaster's away-day run". RugbyPaper (397). p. 24.
  39. "Championship". RugbyPaper (397). 24 April 2016. pp. 24–25 & 34.
  40. "Bristol, Yorkshire Carnegie and Doncaster meet Premiership promotion criteria". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  41. "Championship 15/16 Home attendances". Rugby Statbunker. 25 May 2016.
  42. "Championship 15/16 Leading top scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
  43. "Championship Play offs 15/16 Leading top scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 25 May 2016.
  44. "Championship 15/16 Leading try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 22 April 2016.
  45. "Championship Play offs 15/16 Leading try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 25 May 2016.
  46. "Championship 15/16 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
  47. "Championship 15/16 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
  48. "Championship 15/16 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
  49. "Championship 15/16 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
  50. "Championship 15/16 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
  51. "Championship 15/16 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
  52. "Championship 15/16 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
  53. "Championship 15/16 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
  54. "Championship 15/16 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
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